GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES AND PRODUCTS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS OF POSTINJURY SYNOVITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS

Associations between inflammation and pain/function scores were tested by univariate and multivariate analyses. Gene expression was analyzed by microarray and real-time PCR comparing patients with and without synovial inflammation. Synovitis was present in 43% of patients presenting for arthroscopic menisectomy. Inflammation was associated with pre-operative Lysholm scores, independent of age, gender, and BMI. Synovial RNA microarray analysis revealed 260 genes differently expressed ≧2-fold between patients with and without synovitis. A chemokine signature identified in the “inflammatory” biopsies was confirmed by real-time PCR. In conclusion, in patients presenting for arthroscopic menisectomy, synovitis is associated with symptoms. Comparison of expression patterns revealed enrichment of chemokines associated with cellular recruitment and activation in patients with synovitis. These chemokines may represent targets for therapeutic intervention to reduce inflammatory symptoms in patients with meniscal injury.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of copending International Application No. PCT/US2011/051773, filed Sep. 15, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application Nos. 61/383,110, filed Sep. 15, 2010, and 61/383,594 filed Sep. 16, 2010. The disclosures set forth in the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, including all information as originally submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Sep. 15, 2011, is named 700726_SEQ_ST25.txt and is 259,333 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND

Joint injury predisposes individuals to develop osteoarthritis (OA). Among the most common knee joint injuries associated with increased OA risk are meniscal injuries. Recent longitudinal data from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study indicate that meniscal damage is associated with a 6-fold increased risk (OR 5.7, 95% CI 3.4-9.4) of developing radiographically visible OA changes. Furthermore, in patients with established OA, meniscal damage is associated with increased risk of progression. Anatomic patterns of meniscal tear are often utilized to discriminate between traumatic and degenerative meniscal pathology; traumatic tears occurring in an otherwise normal meniscus are reported to present with longitudinal (sometimes “bucket-handle” type tears) or radial orientations, while horizontal, flap or complex tears and maceration are interpreted as degenerative tears, i.e. those occurring in a meniscus structurally weakened by degenerative change. Both patterns of meniscal alteration are associated with elevated risk of OA, but the risk associated with degenerative-type tears appears to be higher. Although biomechanical factors likely play a role in the structural changes in both patterns of meniscal pathology, the cellular and molecular processes that lead to increased risk of OA are not understood. Furthermore, these injuries are often asymptomatic, and factors that contribute to symptoms such as pain have not been defined.

In patients with OA, inflammation is one factor associated with risk of both progression of cartilage loss and symptoms. Inflammation in OA joints manifests as synovial membrane (SM) mononuclear cell infiltration observed in both early and late stages of disease. However, it is not clear whether inflammation pre-dates or is a consequence of early OA development. Roemer and colleagues recently noted an association between meniscal damage and synovial effusion on MRI, but the cellular and molecular nature of this inflammation was not clear. Pessler et al. noted a mild synovitis with histologic features similar to OA in a heterogeneous group of patients with “orthopedic arthropathies”, including some with meniscal tears. However, the prevalence of inflammation in patients with meniscal injuries in the absence of preexistent OA has not been established.

Predictive factors of OA risk joint injuries are needed to guide clinical treatment.

SUMMARY

A gene expression profile is disclosed with values for gene products that are differentially expressed in knee injury patients with synovial inflammation compared to patients without synovial inflammation. In an embodiment, the profile includes the genes of Annex Table 2. Gene products include mRNA, usually measured by PCR methods disclosed herein, and proteins, measured according to methods known in the art (also see herein).

In another embodiment, the profile includes the genes of Table 3. The gene expression profile wherein cytokine (chemokine) gene expression was used, was positively associated with Lysholm scores, a knee-specific metric of symptoms, and functional disability.

In particular, expression of chemokine IL8, CCL5, CCL19 and CCR7 was associated with synovial inflammation.

The gene expression profiles that are differentially expressed in knee injury patients with and without synovial inflammation are useful to identify a patient with knee symptoms associated with synovial inflammation. To determine the gene expression profile from a biological sample of the patient, the methods disclosed herein result in vectors of expression values.

The profile of the patent is compared to profiles obtained from patients with knee injuries who had synovial inflammation, and those who did not, to determine to which group the patient most likely belongs. If synovial inflammation contributes to knee symptoms of the patient, clinical treatment will address the inflammation.

A method to target genes in the expression profile of a patient, includes the steps of:

(a) determining which genes in the patient's genetic profile show the greatest association with synovial inflammation; and

(b) targeting those genes for developing therapies.

A method of treatment associated with knee injuries in a patient includes treating the patient by interacting with the targets to alleviate their effects.

The targets may be chemokines, in which case inflammation will be alleviated.

To improve clinical outcomes after arthroscopic and post joint trauma in a patient:

(a) determine the chemokine signature of the patient; and

(b) select a treatment based on the target genes that are in the chemokine signature.

Gene expression profiles were used to identify knee injury patients with inflammation. There was an initial traumatic meniscal tear patient cohort, and a repository patient cohort. Microarray analysis of synovial RNA initially revealed that 260 genes (Annex—Table 2) were differentially expressed between patients with and without inflammation. Chemokine and chemokine receptors were among the most upregulated transcripts in biopsies with inflammation. Inflammation is defined herein as perivascular mononuclear cell aggregates, which are largely composed of lymphocytes

Classification of patients by identification of genes associated with synovial inflammation is useful to determine appropriate control of clinical symptoms. Markers of early symptomatic disease and prognosis are based on an association between synovial inflammation and clinical symptoms in patients with meniscal degeneration, irrespective of the presence of underlying cartilage degeneration.

Because of the association with inflammation, therapeutic strategies are contemplated. Targeted, intra-articular injection therapies (i.e. corticosteroids and hyaluronan-derivatives) reduce symptoms in both OA and joint injury. IA corticosteroids in particular act as broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory agents. Therapeutics may be targeted to block chemokine activity and/or production in joints to attenuate recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells. These therapeutics are delivered either systemically in the case of patients with multi-joint OA, or locally by intra-articular injection in the case of patients with disease or traumatic injury limited to a single joint. In the case of local injection, systems for slow or sustained release are employed to deliver a more sustained therapeutic response to reduce inflammatory symptoms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Histology of synovial membrane inflammation in meniscectomy patients. Synovial biopsies from meniscectomy patients taken at the time of surgery were formalin fixed, embedded in paraffin, and thin-sectioned before being stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. Inflammation was graded as described herein. Low power (5× objective) photomicrographs of representative sections from patients with grade 0 (panel a), 1 (panel b) and 2 (panel c) inflammation as determined by the absence (grade 0) or presence of perivascular mononuclear cell accumulations (black arrows) are pictured. Panel a and c depict sections from patients subjected to microarray analysis.

FIG. 2: Histologic inflammatory infiltrates in meniscectomy patients. Inflammation was graded as described on H&E stained sections. Tissue was obtained from three locations: the suprapatellar pouch, and the medial and lateral gutters. a. The prevalence of synovial inflammation did not differ according to the side of meniscal injury (ipsi- vs contra-lateral), but was observed most commonly in suprapatellar biopsies (□) from meniscectomy patients. b. Synovial inflammation grade in suprapatellar biopsies from meniscectomy patients (n=28) was compared SM from the suprapatellar pouch taken from patients with OA (n=20) (□ meniscectomy, ▪ OA). Inflammation was detectable in 43% of meniscectomy patients (vs. 75% of OA patients), and tended to be of lower grade.

FIG. 3: Real-time quantitative PCR validation of a. IL-8, b. CCL5, (RANTES) c. CCR7 and d. CCL19 identified by microarray analysis, measured in a subset of thirty-six synovial biopsies from meniscectomy patients. Gene expression (mRNA) was calculated relative to the mean value for each analyte in biopsies without inflammation (inflammation score=0), after normalizing to GAPDH levels. IL-8, CCL5 and CCR7 were all detected more frequently in biopsies from meniscectomy patients exhibiting synovial inflammation (+ inflammation score, ▪) than in biopsies that did not (− inflammation score, ). Median levels of all four transcripts were significantly higher in the inflammatory biopsies (p<0.05. Mann-Whitney).

FIG. 4: Association of chemokine levels and Lysholm scores. Chemokine gene expression (mRNA) was measured by real-time PCR as described in a subset of synovial biopsies from meniscectomy patients. Associations between chemokine expression in the suprapatellar biopsies (n=12 for CCR7, n=9 for CCL19) and Lysholm scores were tested using Spearman's non-parametric correlation test. a. CCR7 relative expression (RE) levels and b. CCL19 RE levels were significantly associated with Lysholm scores.

FIG. 5: Distribution of pre-operative knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) in patients enrolled in a repository study undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy. The KOOS is a validated outcome score developed to measure knee-related symptoms and dysfunction in five domains (i) pain, ii) other knee symptoms, (iii) activities of daily living (ADL), (iv) sports and recreation activities, and (v) quality of life (QOL). A score of 100=no symptoms/dysfunction and a score of 0=most severe symptoms/dysfunction. Of the five subscores, the Sports/Recreation scores were lowest, consistent with previous reports in similar patient populations.

FIG. 6: Distribution of synovial fluid (SF) IL-8 and CCL19 levels in repository patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy. SF chemokines were measured by ELISA using commercially available kits (IL-8 ELISA from Invitrogen, CCL19 ELISA from R&D Systems, Inc.).

FIG. 7: Relationships between synovial fluid (SF) IL-8 levels and KOOS subscores in repository patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy. IL-8 was measured by ELISA as in FIG. 6 (a. KOOS Pain; b. KOOS Symptom; c. KOOS ADL; d. KOOS QOL), and Spearman correlation test was applied to data to determine if relationships between IL-8 levels and symptoms existed. r=Spearman rho.

FIG. 8: Relationships between synovial fluid (SF) CCL19 levels and KOOS subscores in respitory patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy. CCL19 was measured by ELISA, and a Spearman correlation test was applied to the data to determine if relationships between CCL19 levels and symptom scores existed. R=Spearman rho.

FIG. 9: Expression of CCR7 (receptor for CCL19) in synovial membrane. Immunohistochemical staining for CCR7 I knee synovial membrane sections form (a) a patient undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy, (b) a patient with advanced knee OA undergoing total knee replacement, and (c) a nonarthritic organ donor. The arrows represent positive binding of the anti-CCR7 monoclonal antibody. Positive staining was observed in the lining layer and endothelium of all tissues examined, and in perivascular mononuclear cell accumulations in the patients. Staining was generally more prominent in the patients than in the nonarthritic donors and (d) negative control in the nonarthritic donor demonstrating no staining with an isotype-matched control primary antibody of irrelevant specificity.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some reports indicated that synovitis is related to OA symptoms and progression of the condition. Synovial inflammation and effusions also occur with meniscal injuries, even in patients without radiographic evidence of OA. However, cellular and molecular characteristics of synovial reactions associated with meniscal damage have not been reported. The prevalence and the molecular features of synovial inflammation were determined in patients who were (i) without preexistent radiographic features of OA, and who were (ii) undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy for clinically-documented traumatic knee injury associated with MRI evidence of meniscal pathology. A specific goal was to determine whether synovial inflammation correlated with clinical symptoms and whether gene expression profiles could predict synovial inflammation.

A histologic scoring system to grade inflammation was validated using independent evaluators, and comparisons were made with previously characterized synovial tissue from patients with early or late stage OA.

Appearance of cellular infiltrates was similar, but inflammation was less prevalent and extensive in meniscectomy patients. Unexpectedly, there was not preferential localization of inflammation on the side of the meniscal tear. Instead, inflammation was most prevalent in the suprapatellar location (in 43% of patients), indicating that synovial inflammation occurs globally within the joint at sites distant from the injury. Certain sites within the joint may be uniquely sensitive to effects of proinflammatory factors produced in response to meniscal injury.

Another question was whether inflammation was associated with preoperative joint symptoms and dysfunction. When stratified according to presence or absence of suprapatellar synovial inflammation, Lysholm scores were significantly lower (p<0.05) in patients with synovial inflammation, indicating a higher degree of knee-related symptoms and dysfunction. No differences in SF-12® or VAS pain scores were observed. Unlike these two scales, the Lysholm score is a knee-specific metric of symptoms (pain, swelling, limp, locking and instability) and functional disability (stair-climbing, squatting and use of supports). It is scored on a scale of 0-100 (100=best), with pain and instability-related symptoms having most weight (25 points each). In contrast, the VAS scale only measures pain, and the SF-12® health survey measures physical, social and mental health. Neither is specific for knee-related issues. The unique association of inflammation with Lysholm scores and not VAS pain scores suggests that symptoms other than pain (e.g., instability, swelling) captured by the Lysholm scale account for this difference. The weighting of the scale may also contribute to these observations.

Patient characteristics [(age, body mass index (BMI), degree of cartilage abnormality, and time elapsed between injury and surgery) were analyzed in the stratified data. [Table 1(a)] Age and BMI are known risk factors for OA. In this cohort, older patients were more likely to demonstrate synovial inflammation, but BMI did not differ with inflammation score. It was expected that infiltration of cells would increase with time elapsed between injury and surgery, but this did not appear to be true. Patients with synovial inflammation tended to have shorter time intervals between injury and surgery. Possibly increased inflammatory symptoms prompt earlier intervention. Multivariate analysis indicated that the association between inflammation and Lysholm scores is independent of age, BMI, and interval between injury and surgery.

The population examined is one in which an identifiable injury precipitated symptoms, and who had tears that did not involve the vascular portion of the meniscus. Also, despite a clear history of trauma, most patients exhibited complex meniscal lesions upon arthroscopic examination. Although patients with clinical or radiographic signs of OA were excluded, most patients demonstrated grade 1-4 Outerbridge cartilage lesions suggesting this population is enriched for patients with pre-radiographic disease. These observations indicate the presence of an early degenerative process occurring within the joint of the majority of these patients, given the known association between pre-existing OA and a complex pattern of meniscal pathology. Because synovial inflammation is associated with symptoms in patients with established OA, a question was whether inflammation was related to the degree of underlying cartilage abnormality as a sign of early OA. There was a trend towards greater inflammation in patients with cartilage abnormalities, but the multivariate model demonstrated that the association between inflammation and Lysholm scores was independent of degree of cartilage abnormality. The finding of synovial inflammation in one of seven patients with normal cartilage suggests that in some cases of meniscal injury, inflammation may pre-date cartilage changes.

To obtain insight into molecular markers that contribute to synovial inflammation, a microarray analysis of synovial RNA was performed. Four biopsies from patients with inflammation (grade 1 or 2) and four without (grade 0) were compared. 260 genes (Annex Table 2) were differentially expressed between these two patient groups (≧2 fold change). Inflammatory pathway over-representation analysis of these differentially expressed genes revealed twenty-two “pathways” (transcripts which cluster into functional categories or molecular pathways) that were significantly enriched with corrected p values <0.05.

Seven clusters were embodied which included more than three gene products. Of these seven, a signature of chemokines and their receptors was the top up-regulated pathway in biopsies exhibiting inflammation. The six transcripts in this signature are shown in Table 2, with their respective fold-change and p-values. The other six pathways identified were “Primary Immunodeficiency” and “Hematopoietic cell lineage” composed of cell surface receptors and genes associated with infiltrating leukocyte populations (i.e. CD19, IL2RG, IL7R, CIITA, CD1D, CD2).

Three additional pathways included overlapping lists of cytokine receptor chains (IL2RB, IL2RG), an intra-cellular signaling molecule (JAK3), and cytolytic enzymes (GZMA, GZMB) expressed by T and NK cell populations, and related to IL-12 signalling. The seventh pathway, “Cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions,” was largely comprised of the same six chemokine/receptor transcripts identified in the chemokine signature. These seven pathways were condensed to the three listed in Table 3. In addition, a number of genes involved in B lymphocyte activity and signaling were identified in the differentially expressed gene set and are also shown in Table 3. For the purpose of the present analysis, chemokines were a focus because of their potential contribution to early events in lymphocyte accumulation in synovium.

The gene expression profiles suggest that the chemokine signature identifies a group of patients with synovial inflammation and knee symptoms. Given the role of these chemokines in recruitment of inflammatory cells, they may contribute to development of synovial inflammation in response to meniscal injury. Conclusions include:

    • (a) inflammation is detectable in 43% of patients with degenerative menisci without radiographic OA; it is not more prevalent on the side of injury;
    • (b) inflammation is associated with worse pain/dysfunction;
      • (i) although usually associated with pre-existing OA changes in the cartilage, inflammation is occasionally detected in patients with normal cartilage after meniscal injury;
    • (c) inflammation is associated with chemokine expression;
      • (i) histologic inflammation, CCL19/CCR7, IL-8 and CCL5 levels are associated with Lysholm scores;
      • (ii) chemokines may represent markers of early disease or have predictive value for persistent pain, worse surgical outcomes, progression of symptoms.

Expression of these genes (Table 3) within the synovium may promote recruitment of the inflammatory cellular infiltrate, so this gene set was selected for validation by real-time PCR.

Five genes were selected for validation by real-time PCR: IL-8, CCL5, CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21. With the exception of IL-8, these belong to the “C-C” chemokine gene family which generally influences recruitment of monocytes, lymphocytes and eosinophils. IL-8, a “C-X-C” chemokine, recruits neutrophils to sites of inflammation. Although first described as a T-lymphocyte recruitment factor, CCL5 (or RANTES) has pleiotropic effects on multiple leukocyte subsets. CCR7 is the cognate receptor for both CCL19 and CCL21, which are involved in T-lymphocyte and dendritic cell migration; interaction between these chemokines and their receptor mediates homing to secondary lymphoid tissues and appropriate migration of cells within lymphoid follicles. Analysis revealed increased IL-8, CCL5, CCR7 and CCL19 relative expression levels in biopsies with inflammation (FIG. 4), consistent with the microarray results. IL-8, CCR7 and CCL19 transcripts were often undetectable in specimens without inflammation. Levels of CCR7 and CCL19 transcripts, which represent a ligand/receptor pair, were strongly associated with Lysholm scores.

Expression of genes that make up the “chemokine signature” (Table 3: IL-8, CCL5, CCL19, CCL21, XCL1, CCR7, CXCR3, CXCR6) may be measured in clinical/biological fluids (synovial fluid from affected joint, peripheral blood, urine) obtained during office visits or surgical procedures by methods such as ELISA, Elispot, or a high-throughput techniques such as Luminex bead-based detection. Cells derived from synovial fluid or blood may potentially be analyzed by flow cytometry for the presence of the receptor CCR7, or cell-bound or intracellular chemokine production. Alternatively, transcripts of these chemokines and receptor may be measured in synovial tissue biopsies taken at the time of surgical intervention, or office-based needle biopsy of the affected joint (i.e. the suprapatellar pouch).

Utility of the Classification of Patients by Gene Expression Profiles

Post-Traumatic Knee Injury:

Diagnosis: (a) detection of co-existing early-stage (pre-radiographic) osteoarthritis that is associated with synovial inflammation guides clinical decision making in determining whether a patient is a good surgical candidate or not (b) detection of local, chronic inflammatory response in association with the injury guides choice of therapeutics (i.e. corticosteroids, hyaluronan injections, or future targeted therapeutics) used alone or in conjunction with surgical approaches. Prognosis: (a) determination of an individual patient's risk of sustained inflammatory symptoms post-surgery guides clinical follow-up and (b) determination of an individual patient's risk of more rapid progression to overt Osteoarthritis, guides both current clinical trial planning as well as future therapeutic/preventative interventions.

Patients with Unexplained Knee Pain:

Diagnosis: detection of early-stage (pre-radiographic) osteoarthritis that is associated with synovial inflammation guides appropriate treatment strategies. These tests have advantages in enhancing the predictive value of existing imaging techniques (i.e. MRI) to define patients at greater risk for inflammatory symptoms. Prognosis: determination of an individual patient's risk of future osteoarthritis, guides both current clinical treatment planning as well as future therapeutic/preventative interventions.

Patients with Known Osteoarthritis:

Diagnosis: detection of an associated chronic inflammatory response, guides treatment choices targeting inflammatory symptoms. Prognosis: determination of an individual patient's risk of more rapid progression of existing disease, guides clinical treatment planning as well as therapeutic/preventative interventions.

EXAMPLES

Examples are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Example 1 The Post-Traumatic Meniscectomy Cohort

Traumatic and degenerative meniscal tears have different anatomic features and different proposed etiologies, yet both are associated with development or progression of osteoarthritis (OA). In established OA, synovitis is associated with pain and progression, but a relationship between synovitis and symptoms in isolated meniscal disease has not been reported. Synovial pathology in patients with traumatic meniscal injuries was characterized and the relationships between inflammation, meniscal and cartilage pathology, and symptoms were determined.

Thirty-three patients ([Table 1(a)]) without evidence of OA who were undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy for meniscal injuries were recruited. Pain and function were assessed preoperatively; meniscal and cartilage abnormalities were documented at the time of surgery. Inflammation in synovial biopsies was scored and associations between inflammation and clinical outcomes determined. Microarray analysis of synovial tissue was performed and gene expression patterns in patients with or without inflammation compared.

Synovial inflammation was present in 43% of patients and was associated with worse pre-operative pain and function scores, independent of age, gender, or cartilage pathology. Microarray analysis and real-time PCR revealed a chemokine signature in synovial biopsies with increased inflammation scores.

In patients with traumatic meniscal injury undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy without clinical or radiographic evidence of OA, synovial inflammation occurs frequently and is associated with increased pain and dysfunction. Synovia with increased inflammation scores exhibit a unique chemokine signature. Chemokines may contribute to the development of synovial inflammation in patients with meniscal pathology; they also represent potential therapeutic targets for reducing inflammatory symptoms.

Patients:

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the New England Baptist Hospital, and all patients gave written, informed consent. Patients aged 18 to 60 years who suffered a traumatic knee injury and were scheduled for arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for treatment of symptomatic meniscal tears were recruited from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at New England Baptist Hospital. The inclusion criterion was patient recall of an injury to the knee which initiated their symptoms and which occurred within six months of initial presentation, and a meniscal tear identified on pre-operative MRI and considered to be the cause of the symptoms. Exclusions were (i) those with known inflammatory arthritis, and clinical or radiographic evidence of OA (osteophytes or joint space narrowing), and (ii) patients with meniscal tears affecting the vascular portion of the meniscus thought to be amenable to surgical repair rather than resection. The latter was done to increase the homogeneity of the patient population.

Outcome Scores:

The Short form-12 (SF-12®) health surveys, Lysholm questionnaires, and visual analog pain scales (VAS) were administered pre-operatively. The Lysholm questionnaire is a knee-specific instrument for measuring symptoms (pain, swelling, limp, locking and instability) and functional disability (stair-climbing, squatting and use of supports) on a single scale (0-100). Originally developed to assess responses to ligamentous repairs, this score has been validated in patients undergoing meniscal procedures. In contrast, SF-12® is a generic health survey capturing information on general physical and emotional well-being.

Assessment of Meniscus and Cartilage Integrity:

Surgical reports were available for 28 patients, and were reviewed to determine the anatomic pattern of meniscal pathology (degenerative vs. traumatic). The degree of cartilage damage was assessed intra-operatively using the Outerbridge scoring system: 0=normal articular cartilage, 1=superficial softening, 2=superficial fissuring or fibrillation involving <1.25 cm area, 3=fibrillation or fissuring with >1.25 cm area, 4=full-thickness cartilage wear with exposed subchondral bone.

Synovial Tissue Collection and Preparation:

Tissue from patients undergoing meniscectomy was obtained from three defined locations: suprapatellar pouch, medial and lateral gutters. Tissue biopsies were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded before sectioning and H&E staining.

Histologic Assessment of Synovial Inflammation:

To standardize evaluations, only sections containing a clearly recognizable synovial lining layer with underlying vascularized subintima were analyzed. Comparisons were made to suprapatellar biopsy specimens from patients with known knee OA, both early and end-stage. To further standardize, inflammation was evaluated at low-power (10× objective). As there are no published reports on synovial infiltrates in patients with meniscal injury only, inflammation was graded based on perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration in the synovial membrane from OA patients as follows: grade 0=none, grade 1=mild (0-1 perivascular aggregates per low-power field); grade 2=moderate (>1 perivascular aggregate per low power field with or without focal interstitial infiltration); grade 3=marked aggregates (both perivascular and interstitial). To evaluate inter- and intra-reader reliability, subsets of specimens were scored by two independent readers (E.D., C.R.S.) and were re-read by one blinded reader (E.D.).

Synovial Gene Expression Microarray Analysis:

Total RNA was extracted from homogenized SM samples using PerfectPure® RNA Fibrous Tissue kits (5Prime Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.). All RNA was DNAse-treated, oligo-dT primed, and cDNA synthesized with SuperScript III® Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.). RNA integrity was determined by electrophoresis on a microfluidics-based platform (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, Calif.). Eight synovial biopsies were chosen for microarray analysis, four each from meniscectomy patients with synovial inflammation (grade 1 or 2) or without synovial inflammation (grade 0) where synovial inflammation was identified histologically. RNA was hybridized to Affymetrix human U133 plus 2.0 chips at the Cornell University Weill College of Medicine Core Facility. Data were analyzed using Genespring 10.0 software (Agilent Technologies) as follows. Data were transformed using the RMA algorithm with baseline transformation to the median of all arrays. Probesets were filtered by expression (20-100%), with the requirement that probes be present in at least 4 of the 8 arrays. An unpaired t test was done on the filtered data. 3030 probesets were differentially expressed in synovial inflammation samples (p<0.05); 260 were differentially expressed with a >2-fold difference. Pathway over-representation analysis was done utilizing algorithms available via the Innate DB database (http://www.innatedb.ca/index.jsp) Innate DB is a database of genes, proteins, interactions and signaling responses involved in the mammalian innate immune response. (Lynn et al. Molecular Systems Biology 2008:4:218) Targets were then chosen for validation by real-time qPCR.

Quantitative PCR Analysis:

mRNA levels of four chemokines and one chemokine receptor identified by microarray pathway analysis (IL-8, CCR7, CCL19, CCL21 and CCL5) were measured by real-time PCR using specific primers and iQ Sybr-Green Supermix (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). Primers spanned introns and yielded a single product. After normalizing Ct values to GAPDH, expression levels were calculated relative to the mean of specimens without inflammation.

Statistical Analysis:

Inter- and intra-reader reliability of inflammation scores is reported as a weighted kappa statistic. Given the small sample size and some irregularly distributed variables, nonparametric tests were used. Between-group differences were evaluated with Mann-Whitney t-tests, and Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated using Prism 5.0 software (GraphPad, Inc., San Diego, Calif.). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the association between synovial inflammatory score and baseline Lysholm scores. Age, gender, BMI and time between injury and surgery were included as independent covariates.

Patient Characteristics:

Thirty-three patients were recruited. All patients reported a history of traumatic knee injury which precipitated their symptoms and all underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy; patients undergoing meniscal repairs were excluded, as were patients with evidence of OA on pre-operative knee x-rays (i.e. Kellgren-Lawrence scores>0). Demographics of these patients (age, BMI, gender) are presented in Table 1(a). The median interval between knee injury and surgery was 14.8 weeks (range 1-42 weeks). Most (26, 82%) had medial meniscal tears; six had lateral tears; one both medial and lateral tears. Surgical reports were available for 28 patients; twenty-five reports indicated the presence of complex tears, with horizontal cleavages and flap lesions and one described as macerated. Only two had isolated radial tears (one patient had both medial and lateral tears, one radial and one complex), and two were unrecorded. Using the Outerbridge scale to assess cartilage integrity, only seven patients (21%) scored zero (normal cartilage) in all compartments. The remainder had grade 1 (n=6), grade 2 (n=7), or grade 3 (n=7) lesions in one or more compartments, with 6 exhibiting focal, grade 4, chondral lesions but no diffuse full-thickness cartilage loss.

Histologic Assessment of Synovial Inflammation:

Biopsies of sufficient quality and quantity for evaluation were available from 28 patients. Inflammation was graded 0-3 based on perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration in H&E sections. Zero represents no inflammation; 3 marked inflammation. As there were no reports describing synovial infiltrates in this patient population, the scale used was based on perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration in OA patients. Hence, prevalence and extent of inflammation in the patients was compared to a group of 20 OA patients (6 with early knee OA, as defined previously; 14 with advanced stage OA undergoing joint replacement).

Table 1(a) shows demographics of these patients. Median Body Mass Index (BMI) was similar in meniscectomy and OA patients, but OA patients were older (medians, 64 vs. 48 years, p<0.0001) and more likely to be female (Fisher's exact test, p<0.05).

FIG. 1 shows photomicrographs of biopsy specimens from representative meniscectomy patients with typical grade 0, 1 and 2 inflammation scores. None exhibited grade 3 inflammation.

Reliability of Histologic Score:

To evaluate inter- and intra-rater reliability of inflammation scoring, 18 synovial specimens were scored by two independent readers (E.D., C.R.S.) and 8 were re-scored by one blinded reader (E.D.). Inter-rater and intra-reader weighted kappas were 0.87 and 1.0 respectively, indicating good reliability.

Prevalence and Anatomic Variation of Inflammatory Infiltrates:

Synovial tissue was obtained from three anatomic locations in the meniscectomy patients: the suprapatellar pouch (n=28), and the medial and lateral gutters (n=27 each).

FIG. 2a shows that inflammation was observed most often in the suprapatellar biopsies (43%, or 12/28), compared with medial or lateral (26%, 7/27) gutters. When suprapatellar inflammation was observed, it was often found in at least one gutter as well ( 7/12). Five patients exhibited suprapatellar inflammation only; two exhibited inflammation in gutters only. When analyzed according to side (medial or lateral) of meniscal injury (ipsi- or contralateral, FIG. 2a), there was no predilection for inflammation on the side of the meniscal pathology. Extent (grade) and prevalence of synovial inflammation in meniscectomy and OA patients was also compared. As biopsies from OA patients were taken from the suprapatellar pouch comparison was made only at this location. Inflammation was observed less often in meniscectomy than in OA patients (FIG. 2b; 42% vs. 75%), and tended to be of lower grade.

Association of Inflammation with Patient Characteristics and Lysholm Scores:

Patients were stratified according to the presence (n=12, score 1 or 2) or absence (n=16, score 0) of suprapatellar inflammation. Lower Lysholm scores (indicating greater knee-related symptoms and disability) were observed in patients with synovial inflammation than in patients without inflammation (difference between means=−19.9, 95% CI −9.20 to −30.7, p=0.0008). No significant differences in SF-12® (−0.85, 1.08 to −2.79) or VAS pain scores (0.44, 2.27 to −1.40) were observed. Patients with synovial inflammation were significantly older (51.3±7.3 years vs. 40.2±11.6, p=0.007), and the interval between injury and surgery was significantly shorter (10.2±8.8 weeks vs. 18.5±11.5, p=0.047). Inflammatory infiltrates were observed in some patients presenting for surgery within a few weeks of their reported injury. Despite excluding patients with clinical or radiographic OA, 60% of patients had evidence of Outerbridge grade 1-3 cartilage degeneration and 18% (n=6) had discrete grade 4 chondral lesions noted intra-operatively. Although there was no significant difference in mean Outerbridge cartilage scores, there did appear to be a trend towards higher Outerbridge scores in patients with synovial inflammation (2.3±1.2 vs. 1.3±1.5, p=0.07). Only one of the seven patients with normal (grade 0) cartilage scores showed inflammation. Of six with focal grade 4 lesions, five were female, but otherwise they were not clearly distinguishable from the rest of the cohort, and Lysholm scores varied widely (40-90). Synovial biopsies were available for four: two exhibited synovial infiltrates (grade 1); two did not. There was no correlation between Outerbridge scores and Lysholm scores (r=0.03, p=0.86).

Multivariate Analysis:

Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine whether the relationship between synovial inflammation and Lysholm scores was independent of known OA risk factors and of the degree of underlying cartilage abnormality. Suprapatellar scores were analyzed because inflammation was most prevalent in this location. Age, gender, Outerbridge score, BMI and time between injury and surgery were included as independent covariates. Both inflammatory score (p=0.001, effect estimate −15.3±4.7 per point) and BMI (p=0.004, effect estimate −1.3±0.4 per kg/m2) were significantly associated with Lysholm score after adjusting for the above variables. Outerbridge score (p=0.69) and age (p=0.30) were not, after accounting for other variables.

Analysis of Synovial Gene Expression in Patients with or without Synovial Inflammation:

Histologic analysis was used to stratify biopsies according to the presence or absence of synovial inflammation for further analysis of gene expression using microarray technology. SM specimens from eight meniscectomy patients, four with and four without synovial inflammation were chosen for microarray analysis. The eight biopsies were from different patients; anatomic locations varied.

FIG. 1 shows H & E stained sections from a representative non-inflammatory biopsy (panel a) and a representative inflammatory biopsy (panel c) subjected to this analysis. Genes (n=260) were differentially expressed (≧2.0 fold, p<0.05). Inflammatory pathway over-representation analysis of these genes revealed a number of “pathways” that were significantly enriched, many of which included overlapping lists of individual transcripts (Table 3). A signature of chemokines and their receptors was the top up-regulated pathway in biopsies exhibiting inflammation. The six transcripts in this signature are shown in Table 2, with their respective fold-change and p-values.

Validation of Chemokine Expression by Real-Time PCR:

mRNA levels of four chemokines and one chemokine receptor identified by microarray pathway analysis (IL-8, CCR7, CCL19, CCL21 and CCL5) were measured by real-time PCR. All available biopsies yielding sufficient cDNA quantities were utilized (36 samples representing 18 patients). Samples were stratified by inflammation score (±) and relative analyte expression levels were compared. Levels of IL-8 (FIG. 3 panel a), CCL5 (FIG. 3 panel b), CCR7 (FIG. 3 panel c) and CCL19 (FIG. 3 panel d) were all detected more frequently in biopsies exhibiting inflammation, and mean levels were significantly higher. CCL21 was not detectable in most specimens.

Association of Chemokine Expression with Baseline Lysholm Scores:

Associations between chemokine expression and clinical outcome scores were assessed by Spearman correlation. Only suprapatellar chemokine expression was analyzed. CCR7 (FIG. 4a) and CCL19 (FIG. 4b) expression showed strong associations with Lysholm scores (r=−0.790, p=0.002 and r=−0.783, p=0.002, respectively) in meniscectomy patients. IL-8 (r=−0.54, p=0.07) and CCL5 (r=−0.38, p=0.2) were moderately but not statistically significantly associated with Lysholm scores. No associations were observed between chemokine expression and VAS pain or SF-12 scores.

Example 2 The Repository Cohort

To validate findings in the post-traumatic meniscectomy patients, synovial chemokine expression levels were measured in a separate cohort of patients: those enrolled in the Rush Knee Meniscal Injury and Osteoarthritis Repository (the “repository cohart”) the demographics of which patients are shown in Table 1b. This group included both patients with post-traumatic and idiopathic meniscal tears, as well as some patients with radiographic changes of established OA. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) surveys were administered at the time surgery was scheduled to evaluate functional status and symptomatology. The KOOS is a validated knee-specific patient questionnaire which evaluates both short-term and long-term symptoms and function in patients with knee injury and osteoarthritis. It consists of 5 scored subscales: Pain, Other symptoms, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Function in Sports and Recreation, and Quality of Life (QOL).

The results in Table 4 demonstrate relationships between chemokine expression levels and KOOS scores in the repository cohort, that are consistent with observations in the post-traumatic meniscal injury cohort with no OA using the Lysholm score. These results suggest that the relationship between chemokine expression and symptoms may be applicable to a broader patient population encompassing all patients (post-traumatic and idiopathic) presenting for arthroscopic meniscal repair/resection with varying stages of early-intermediate radiographic OA. Similar findings in two cohorts of patients using two different, validated outcome scores (the KOOS and the Lysholm) further strengthen initial findings.

Relationships were demonstrated between symptoms and chemokine mRNA levels in synovial biopsies. FIG. 6 demonstrates that these chemokines are also readily detectable at the protein level in synovial fluid aspirates.

Higher chemokine mRNA expression levels measured in synovial biopsies from patients with post-traumatic meniscal tears were associated with worse Lysholm score indicating greater levels of knee symptoms and dysfunction. FIG. 7 extends those findings to show that higher IL-8 (one chemokine in the identified signature) protein levels measured in synovial fluid aspirates also tend to be associated with worse symptoms assessed by the KOOS score, particularly in the pain, other knee symptoms, dysfunction in activities of daily living and quality of life domains. This is demonstrated in Rush Knee Osteoarthritis and Meniscal Injury Repository cohort of patients with BOTH traumatic and idiopathic meniscal tears. (FIG. 7).

Higher chemokine mRNA expression levels (including IL-8 and CCL19) measured in synovial biopsies were associated with knee symptoms and dysfunction measured by the Lysholm score. Data shown in FIG. 8 extends those findings to show that worse symptoms are also associated with using the KOOS score. These relationships were statistically significant with the KOOS ADL subscore, but trends were also seen with the KOOS pain and Sport/Recreational subscores. This data, obtained on a second population of patients (those enrolled in the Rush Knee Arthritis Injury Repository) validates and extends previous findings.

Data in FIG. 9 demonstrates that the receptor for CCL19 is expressed in the synovial membrane (joint lining tissue) of patients with advanced OA as well as in patients with meniscal injuries. This indicates that there are cells present in the joint lining which can respond to CCL19. There are relatively more cells expressing the receptor in the patients compared with a nonarthritic donor.

Patient subsets and disease states to which the synovitis markers are applicable include:

Joint-Specific Idiopathic Osteoarthritis: 1. Knee 2. Hip 3. Shoulder 4. Hand

5. Lumbar and Cervical Spine (facet joint OA)

Joint Injury and Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis

1. Knee Meniscal tears in setting of:

a. traumatic knee injury

b. idiopathic

2. Knee ACL tears
3. Chondral injury/avulsion
4. Hip Labral tears in setting of:

a. traumatic hip injury

b. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)

c. idiopathic

Secondary Joint Degeneration/OA in Setting of:

1. Anatomic abnormality (i.e. SCFE, FAI w/o labral tear, etc)
2. Muscle Spasticity (i.e. post-CVA, spinal cord injury, Cerebral Palsy, etc.)
3. Deposition diseases:

a. Hemachromatosis

b. Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease

c. Ochronosis

4. Conditions causing chronic hemarthroses:

a. Hemophilia and other bleeding diatheses

b. anticoagulation therapy

Materials and Methods

Description of KOOS Outcome Scores:

To assess clinical symptoms and knee disability, The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) surveys were administered at the time surgery was scheduled to evaluate functional status and symptomatology in the repository cohort. The KOOS is a validated knee-specific patient questionnaire which evaluates both short-term and long-term symptoms and function in patients with knee injury and osteoarthritis. It consists of 5 scored subscales: Pain, other symptoms, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Function in Sports and Recreation, and Quality of Life (QOL). A normalized score is calculated for each subscale where 100=no symptoms and 0=extreme symptoms.

Enablement of Gene Expression and Innate DB.

Enablement of methods to analyze relative gene expression and to analyze mammalian innate immune responses are in Livak et al. (2001) and Lynn et al. (2008).

TABLE 1(a) Patient Characteristics of the traumatic meniscal injury cohort Partial Meniscectomy patients OA patientsa N= 33 20 Ageb 45.0 (40.0-53.0) 64.0 (57.0-67.5)d BMIb 26.9 (24.7-28.1) 28.6 (24.7-34.4) Males/Females 21/12 7/13 Kellgren-Lawrence scoresb 0c   3 (2-3) Injury to surgery (weeks)b 14.8 (6-20) N/Ae Med./Lat./Bilateral tears 26/6/1 N/A Type of Meniscal Tear Radial: 1 N/A Complex: 23 Both: 2 N/A: 7 Outerbridge score: grade 0: 7 Not done grade 1: 6 grade2: 7 grade 3: 7 grade 4: 6 (all focal) aOA patients utilized for comparison of histology bMedian (Interquartile range) cPts with K-L scores >0 excluded from Meniscectomy group dP < 0.0001 compared with Meniscectomy patients, unpaired t-test eNot available

TABLE 1(b) Characteristics of the meniscectomy patients from rRush Knee Meniscal Injury and Osteoarthritis repository which supplied synovial fluids and biopsies Rush Repository Patients n = 21 Age{circumflex over ( )} 52.5 (45.5-59.75) Male/Female 10/11 BMI{circumflex over ( )} 29.1 (24.18-35.56) Race 85.7% Caucasian Worst* Outerbridge Grade 0 (normal K-L Grade Grade 0 (normal): 2 Score cartilage): 2 Grade 1 (possible Grade 1 (Superficial osteophytes or JSN+): 4 softening): 0 Grade 2 (definite Grade 2 (Fissuring osteophytes): 8 ≦1.25 cm): 6 Grade 3 (multiple Grade 3 (Fissuring osteophytes + JSN): 2 >1.25 cm): 5 Grade 4 (large Grade 4 (Exposed bone): 8 osteophytes + marked JSN): 0 N/A#: 5 {circumflex over ( )}Median (Interquartile range); *Worst Outerbridge = worst score of all cartilage surfaces in knee; #pre-operative knee x-rays not available for analysis; +JSN = joint space narrowing

TABLE 2 Chemokines and chemokine receptor transcripts identified by pathway analysis of microarray data, and upregulated with fold-change greater than 2. Gene Fold-changea p CCL19 8.2 0.003833 IL8 7.3 0.006499 CCL21 3.1 0.021921 CCL5 5.5 0.023211 XCL1 3 0.001123 CCR7 2.9 0.001505 aInflammatory vs. non-inflammatory

TABLE 3 Additional Gene Expression Signature subsets obtained by pathways analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts in inflammatory vs. noninflammatory synovial biopsies. Subset name Differentially Expressed Genes in Subset Chemokines & CCL19 (SEQ ID NO: 1), CCL21 (SEQ ID NO: 2), CCL5 (SEQ ID receptors NO: 3), CCR7 (SEQ ID NO: 4), IL8 (SEQ ID NO: 5), XCL1 (SEQ ID NO: 6), CXCR3 (SEQ ID NOS 7-8), CXCR6 (SEQ ID NO: 9) Cell lineage markers CD19 (SEQ ID NOS 10-11), CIITA (SEQ ID NO: 12), IL2RG (SEQ ID NO: 13), IL7R (SEQ ID NO: 14), CD1D (SEQ ID NO: 15), CD2 (SEQ ID NO: 16), CD3E (SEQ ID NO: 17), CD38 (SEQ ID NO: 18), CD5 (SEQ ID NO: 19), CD7 (SEQ ID NO: 20), CD22 (SEQ ID NOS 21-24), FCGR1A (SEQ ID NO: 25), ITGA4 (SEQ ID NO: 26) IL12-mediated and CD3E (SEQ ID NO: 17), EOMES (SEQ ID NO: 27), GZMA (SEQ lymphocyte signaling ID NO: 28), GZMB (SEQ ID NO: 29), IL2RB (SEQ ID NO: 30), events IL2RG (SEQ ID NO: 13), IL7R (SEQ ID NO: 14), IL18R1 (SEQ ID NO: 31), IL18RAP (SEQ ID NO: 32), JAK2 (SEQ ID NO: 33), INSL3 (SEQ ID NO: 34); JAK3 (SEQ ID NO: 35), TBX21 (SEQ ID NO: 36), CD80 (SEQ ID NO: 37), TGFB1 (SEQ ID NO: 38), PIK3CA (SEQ ID NO: 39), PIK3CD (SEQ ID NO: 40) B-cell receptor CARD11 (SEQ ID NO: 41), CD19 (SEQ ID NOS 10-11), CD22 signaling (SEQ ID NOS 21-24), CD72 (SEQ ID NO: 42), IFITM1 (SEQ ID NO: 43), NFKBIE (SEQ ID NO: 44), PIK3CA (SEQ ID NO: 39), PIK3CD (SEQ ID NO: 40), PIK3R5 (SEQ ID NOS 45-46), RAC2 (SEQ ID NO: 47), VAV2 (SEQ ID NOS 48-49), BLK (SEQ ID NO: 50), CD5 (SEQ ID NO: 19), DOK1 (SEQ ID NOS 51-52), DOK3 (SEQ ID NOS 53-55), ETS1 (SEQ ID NOS 56-58), ITPR2 (SEQ ID NO: 59), POU2F2 (SEQ ID NO: 60), PRKCQ (SEQ ID NO: 61), PTPN18 (SEQ ID NOS 62-63), WAS, DAPP1 (SEQ ID NO: 64), LIME1 (SEQ ID NO: 65)

TABLE 4 Associations between KOOS subscores and suprapatellar CCL19 or IL-8 mRNA expression (RE) in the repository patients. Trends between CCL19 RE and the KOOS Sports/Rec subscore, as well as IL-8 RE and both the ADL and Sports/Rec subscores were observed. Pain Symptoms ADL Sports/Rec QOL CCL19 RE n = 11 *r = −0.21 r = −0.08 r = −0.21 r = −0.35 r = 0.09 p = 0.27 p = 0.41 p = 0.28 p = 0.17 p = 0.41 IL 8 RE n = 8 r = −0.11 r = −0.18 r = −0.46 r = −0.56 r = 0.18 p = 0.40 p = 0.34 p = 0.15 p = 0.10 p = 0.33 *r = Spearman rho

TABLE 2 Annex Probe Set ID Fold change p-value Direction Gene Symbol Gene Title Unigene(Avadis) Gene Symbol 217022_s_at 26.822243 0.0171 up IGH@ /// IGHA1 immunoglobulin heavy IGH@ /// IGHA1 /// IGHA2 /// locus /// /// IGHA2 /// IGHV3OR16-13 immunoglobulin heavy IGHV3OR16-13 /// /// constant alpha 1 /// LOC100126583 LOC100126583 immunoglobulin heavy constant alpha 2 (A2m marker) /// immunoglobulin heavy variable 3/OR16-13 /// hypothetical LOC100126583 212592_at 16.352657 0.0115 up IGJ immunoglobulin J Hs.700610 IGJ polypeptide, linker protein for immunoglobulin alpha and mu polypeptides 224795_x_at 15.774081 0.0398 up IGK@ /// IGKC immunoglobulin kappa Hs.709180 IGK@ /// IGKC constant /// immunoglobulin kappa locus 228592_at 15.600855 0.0039 up MS4A1 membrane-spanning 4- Hs.712553 MS4A1 domains, subfamily A, member 1 221671_x_at 15.530083 0.0399 up IGK@ /// IGKC immunoglobulin kappa Hs.709180 IGK@ /// IGKC constant /// immunoglobulin kappa locus 209374_s_at 14.762146 0.0046 up IGHM immunoglobulin heavy IGHM constant mu 221651_x_at 14.342441 0.0406 up IGK@ /// IGKC immunoglobulin kappa Hs.709180 IGK@ /// IGKC constant /// immunoglobulin kappa locus 204475_at 11.433422 0.0101 up MMP1 matrix metallopeptidase Hs.83169 MMP1 1 (interstitial collagenase) 212827_at 9.098719 0.0017 up IGHM immunoglobulin heavy IGHM constant mu 210072_at 8.203936 0.0038 up CCL19 chemokine (C-C motif) Hs.50002 CCL19 ligand 19 234764_x_at 7.279363 0.0065 up IGL@ /// immunoglobulin Hs.449585 IGL@ /// IGLV1- IGLV1-36 /// lambda locus /// 36 /// IGLV1-44 /// IGLV1-44 /// IL8 interleukin 8 /// IL8 immunoglobulin lambda variable 1-44 /// immunoglobulin lambda variable 1-36 231262_at 5.594921 0.009 down Transcribed locus Hs.147375 1405_i_at 5.502158 0.0232 up CCL5 chemokine (C-C motif) Hs.514821 CCL5 ligand 5 1555759_a_at 5.3511667 0.0226 up CCL5 chemokine (C-C motif) Hs.514821 CCL5 ligand 5 211796_s_at 5.116707 0.0164 up TRBC1 T cell receptor beta TRBC1 constant 1 216984_x_at 5.077611 0.0359 up IGLV2-11 /// immunoglobulin lambda variable 2-23 /// IGLV2-11 /// IGLV2-18 /// immunoglobulin lambda variable 2-18 /// IGLV2-18 /// IGLV2-23 immunoglobulin lambda variable 2-11 IGLV2-23 221969_at 5.01445 0.0043 up Transcribed locus Hs.126365 235979_at 4.9794474 0.0064 up C7 complement component 7 Hs.78065 C7 205890_s_at 4.9370193 0.006 up GABBR1 /// gamma-aminobutyric Hs.44532 GABBR1 /// UBD UBD acid (GABA) B receptor, 1 /// ubiquitin D 231093_at 4.933242 ##### up FCRL3 Fc receptor-like 3 Hs.292449 FCRL3 205267_at 4.8833427 0.0485 up POU2AF1 POU class 2 associating Hs.654525 POU2AF1 factor 1 206666_at 4.811665 0.0018 up GZMK granzyme K (granzyme Hs.277937 GZMK 3; tryptase II) 228854_at 4.7780943 0.0015 down Transcribed locus Hs.586747 205883_at 4.6643248 9.11E−04 down ZBTB16 zinc finger and BTB Hs.591945 ZBTB16 domain containing 16 236295_s_at 4.5816174 0.01 up NLRC3 NLR family, CARD Hs.592091 NLRC3 domain containing 3 205488_at 4.5306664 0.015 up GZMA granzyme A (granzyme Hs.90708 GZMA 1, cytotoxic T- lymphocyte-associated serine esterase 3) 205758_at 4.520306 0.028 up CD8A CD8a molecule Hs.85258 CD8A 227762_at 4.4702497 9.14E−04 down Transcribed locus Hs.536218 34210_at 4.347342 0.0203 up CD52 CD52 molecule Hs.276770 CD52 1554240_a_at 4.2015085 0.0133 up ITGAL integrin, alpha L Hs.174103 ITGAL (antigen CD11A (p180), lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1; alpha polypeptide) 205590_at 4.1759534 0.0229 up RASGRP1 RAS guanyl releasing Hs.591127 RASGRP1 protein 1 (calcium and DAG-regulated) 204416_x_at 4.171308 0.0188 up APOC1 apolipoprotein C-I Hs.110675 APOC1 210164_at 4.1457343 0.0037 up GZMB granzyme B (granzyme Hs.1051 GZMB 2, cytotoxic T- lymphocyte-associated serine esterase 1) 204655_at 4.123731 0.026 up CCL5 chemokine (C-C motif) Hs.514821 CCL5 ligand 5 210915_x_at 4.025769 0.008 up TRBC1 T cell receptor beta TRBC1 constant 1 214777_at 3.9837077 0.0378 up IGKV4-1 immunoglobulin kappa IGKV4-1 variable 4-1 219727_at 3.958296 0.0491 down DUOX2 dual oxidase 2 Hs.71377 DUOX2 226878_at 3.9219415 0.0029 up HLA-DOA major Hs.631991 HLA-DOA histocompatibility complex, class II, DO alpha 221601_s_at 3.9174588 0.0032 up FAIM3 Fas apoptotic inhibitory Hs.58831 FAIM3 molecule 3 213193_x_at 3.889033 0.0111 up TRBC1 T cell receptor beta TRBC1 constant 1 205237_at 3.8732288 0.0215 up FCN1 ficolin Hs.440898 FCN1 (collagen/fibrinogen domain containing) 1 215214_at 3.8641615 0.0059 up IGL@ Immunoglobulin Hs.449585 IGL@ lambda joining 3 214768_x_at 3.857342 0.0192 up FAM20B Family with sequence Hs.709368 FAM20B similarity 20, member B 226218_at 3.7806778 0.0223 up IL7R interleukin 7 receptor Hs.635723 IL7R 216920_s_at 3.7242424 ##### up TARP /// TRGC2 T cell receptor gamma Hs.534032 TARP /// TRGC2 constant 2 /// TCR gamma alternate reading frame protein 210356_x_at 3.6961248 0.0142 up MS4A1 membrane-spanning 4- Hs.712553 MS4A1 domains, subfamily A, member 1 206561_s_at 3.6843467 0.0144 down AKR1B10 aldo-keto reductase Hs.116724 AKR1B10 family 1, member B10 (aldose reductase) 222838_at 3.650623 0.0176 up SLAMF7 SLAM family member 7 Hs.517265 SLAMF7 243780_at 3.6208096 0.0028 up CDNA FLJ46553 fis, Hs.435736 clone THYMU3038879 222891_s_at 3.6200087 0.0018 up BCL11A B-cell CLL/lymphoma Hs.370549 BCL11A 11A (zinc finger protein) 222895_s_at 3.5981967 0.0039 up BCL11B B-cell CLL/lymphoma Hs.709690 BCL11B 11B (zinc finger protein) 204118_at 3.575463 0.0024 up CD48 CD48 molecule Hs.243564 CD48 236280_at 3.5092041 0.0196 up Transcribed locus Hs.445500 1569110_x_at 3.5043154 0.0301 up LOC728613 programmed cell death Hs.379186 LOC728613 6 pseudogene 206134_at 3.4443355 0.0047 up ADAMDEC1 ADAM-like, decysin 1 Hs.521459 ADAMDEC1 228055_at 3.3970604 0.0032 up NAPSB napsin B aspartic Hs.636624 NAPSB peptidase pseudogene 204661_at 3.3762317 0.0133 up CD52 CD52 molecule Hs.276770 CD52 227240_at 3.3754249 0.0205 down NGEF neuronal guanine Hs.97316 NGEF nucleotide exchange factor 207339_s_at 3.3336143 ##### up LTB lymphotoxin beta (TNF Hs.376208 LTB superfamily, member 3) 210279_at 3.3166752 ##### up GPR18 G protein-coupled Hs.631765 GPR18 receptor 18 226931_at 3.308737 0.006 down TMTC1 transmembrane and Hs.401954 TMTC1 tetratricopeptide repeat containing 1 204891_s_at 3.2676585 0.018 up LCK lymphocyte-specific Hs.470627 LCK protein tyrosine kinase 219528_s_at 3.2623768 0.0126 up BCL11B B-cell CLL/lymphoma Hs.709690 BCL11B 11B (zinc finger protein) 231776_at 3.2188067 0.0018 up EOMES eomesodermin Hs.591663 EOMES homolog (Xenopus laevis) 209813_x_at 3.21807 0.0025 up TARP TCR gamma alternate Hs.534032 TARP reading frame protein 203407_at 3.1754797 0.0285 down PPL periplakin Hs.192233 PPL 204606_at 3.1178036 0.0219 up CCL21 chemokine (C-C motif) Hs.57907 CCL21 ligand 21 219837_s_at 3.1177366 0.0175 up CYTL1 cytokine-like 1 Hs.13872 CYTL1 202861_at 3.112799 0.0324 down PER1 period homolog 1 Hs.445534 PER1 (Drosophila) 210140_at 3.1036658 0.0072 up CST7 cystatin F Hs.143212 CST7 (leukocystatin) 244677_at 3.0956216 0.008 down Transcribed locus Hs.681030 201292_at 3.077279 0.0419 up TOP2A topoisomerase (DNA) Hs.156346 TOP2A II alpha 170 kDa 219014_at 3.0235617 0.0075 up PLAC8 placenta-specific 8 Hs.546392 PLAC8 206439_at 3.011638 0.0455 up EPYC epiphycan Hs.435680 EPYC 206366_x_at 3.0114927 0.0011 up XCL1 chemokine (C motif) Hs.546295 XCL1 ligand 1 219918_s_at 2.9970858 0.0421 up ASPM asp (abnormal spindle) Hs.121028 ASPM homolog, microcephaly associated (Drosophila) 205569_at 2.9877832 0.0041 up LAMP3 lysosomal-associated Hs.518448 LAMP3 membrane protein 3 217179_x_at 2.9790323 0.021 up Anti-thyroglobulin light Hs.654512 chain variable region 212671_s_at 2.9788504 0.0344 up HLA-DQA1 /// major Hs.387679 HLA-DQA1 /// HLA-DQA2 histocompatibility HLA-DQA2 complex, class II, DQ alpha 1 /// major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ alpha 2 213915_at 2.9653406 0.0059 up NKG7 natural killer cell group Hs.10306 NKG7 7 sequence 205751_at 2.9577966 0.0279 down SH3GL2 SH3-domain GRB2- Hs.75149 SH3GL2 like 2 235856_at 2.9558856 0.0479 up Transcribed locus, Hs.656152 moderately similar to XP_001162191.1 PREDICTED: complement component 4A isoform 2 [Pan troglodytes] 206785_s_at 2.9481602 0.0144 up KLRC1 /// killer cell lectin-like Hs.591157 KLRC1 /// KLRC2 KLRC2 receptor subfamily C, member 1 /// killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily C, member 2 228056_s_at 2.9461346 0.0013 up NAPSB napsin B aspartic Hs.636624 NAPSB peptidase pseudogene 217418_x_at 2.9334269 0.0246 up MS4A1 membrane-spanning 4- Hs.712553 MS4A1 domains, subfamily A, member 1 206210_s_at 2.931509 0.0453 up CETP cholesteryl ester Hs.89538 CETP transfer protein, plasma 206337_at 2.9128153 0.0015 up CCR7 chemokine (C-C motif) Hs.370036 CCR7 receptor 7 206978_at 2.8947625 0.0184 up CCR2 /// chemokine (C-C motif) Hs.644637 CCR2 /// FLJ78302 FLJ78302 receptor 2 /// chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2-like 201042_at 2.8902407 0.0154 up TGM2 transglutaminase 2 (C Hs.517033 TGM2 polypeptide, protein- glutamine-gamma- glutamyltransferase) 202992_at 2.8345373 0.0329 up C7 complement component 7 Hs.78065 C7 215536_at 2.83395 0.0132 up hCG_1998957 /// major Hs.728 hCG_1998957 /// HLA-DQB1 /// histocompatibility HLA-DQB1 /// HLA-DQB2 /// complex, class II, DQ HLA-DQB2 /// HLA-DRB1 /// beta 1 /// major HLA-DRB1 /// HLA-DRB2 /// histocompatibility HLA-DRB2 /// HLA-DRB3 /// complex, class II, DQ HLA-DRB3 /// HLA-DRB4 /// beta 2 /// major HLA-DRB4 /// HLA-DRB5 /// histocompatibility HLA-DRB5 /// LOC100133484 complex, class II, DR LOC100133484 /// /// beta 1 /// major LOC100133583 /// LOC100133583 histocompatibility LOC100133661 /// /// complex, class II, DR LOC100133811 /// LOC100133661 beta 2 (pseudogene) /// LOC730415 /// /// major RNASE2 /// LOC100133811 histocompatibility ZNF749 /// LOC730415 complex, class II, DR /// RNASE2 /// beta 3 /// major ZNF749 histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 4 /// major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 5 /// ribonuclease, RNase A family, 2 (liver, eosinophil- derived neurotoxin) /// zinc finger protein 749 /// hypothetical protein LOC730415 /// similar to Major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 4 /// similar to major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ beta 1 /// similar to HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DR-W53 beta chain /// similar to hCG1992647 205291_at 2.8282504 0.0016 up IL2RB interleukin 2 receptor, Hs.474787 IL2RB beta 217235_x_at 2.8249571 0.025 up IGL@ /// IGLC1 immunoglobulin Hs.449585 IGL@ /// IGLC1 /// /// IGLV2-11 /// lambda locus /// IGLV2-11 /// IGLV2-18 /// immunoglobulin IGLV2-18 /// IGLV2-23 lambda constant 1 IGLV2-23 (Mcg marker) /// immunoglobulin lambda variable 2-23 /// immunoglobulin lambda variable 2-18 /// immunoglobulin lambda variable 2-11 241455_at 2.8230858 0.0109 down Transcribed locus Hs.444277 214567_s_at 2.8030288 0.0082 up XCL1 /// XCL2 chemokine (C motif) Hs.546295 XCL1 /// XCL2 ligand 1 /// chemokine (C motif) ligand 2 213265_at 2.8004074 0.0414 down PGA3 /// PGA4 pepsinogen 5, group I Hs.647247 PGA3 /// PGA4 /// /// PGA5 (pepsinogen A) /// PGA5 pepsinogen 3, group I (pepsinogen A) /// pepsinogen 4, group I (pepsinogen A) 215806_x_at 2.8003066 0.0061 up TRGC2 T cell receptor gamma TRGC2 constant 2 203382_s_at 2.7968225 0.0244 up APOE apolipoprotein E Hs.654439 APOE 242662_at 2.746766 0.0069 down PCSK6 Proprotein convertase Hs.498494 PCSK6 subtilisin/kexin type 6 228599_at 2.745785 0.0154 up MS4A1 membrane-spanning 4- Hs.712553 MS4A1 domains, subfamily A, member 1 217621_at 2.7375898 0.0346 up 228258_at 2.7201014 0.0183 up TBC1D10C TBC1 domain family, Hs.534648 TBC1D10C member 10C 241302_at 2.717775 0.0065 up Transcribed locus Hs.669878 232276_at 2.7032719 0.0469 down HS6ST3 heparan sulfate 6-O- Hs.171001 HS6ST3 sulfotransferase 3 224428_s_at 2.6861918 0.0081 up CDCA7 cell division cycle Hs.470654 CDCA7 associated 7 219386_s_at 2.6830144 0.017 up SLAMF8 SLAM family member 8 Hs.438683 SLAMF8 229686_at 2.681003 0.0069 up P2RY8 purinergic receptor Hs.111377 P2RY8 P2Y, G-protein coupled, 8 200644_at 2.653353 0.0401 up MARCKSL1 MARCKS-like 1 Hs.75061 MARCKSL1 227677_at 2.6499813 0.0097 up JAK3 Janus kinase 3 (a Hs.515247 JAK3 protein tyrosine kinase, leukocyte) 206682_at 2.6476753 0.045 up CLEC10A C-type lectin domain Hs.54403 CLEC10A family 10, member A 220460_at 2.6467173 0.0191 up SLCO1C1 solute carrier organic Hs.47261 SLCO1C1 anion transporter family, member 1C1 1554755_a_at 2.6461675 0.0242 down KIAA0774 KIAA0774 Hs.22287 KIAA0774 213539_at 2.637832 0.0206 up CD3D CD3d molecule, delta Hs.504048 CD3D (CD3-TCR complex) 218039_at 2.6354373 0.0337 up NUSAP1 nucleolar and spindle Hs.615092 NUSAP1 associated protein 1 203828_s_at 2.6349406 0.0388 up IL32 interleukin 32 Hs.943 IL32 213888_s_at 2.6336288 0.0048 up LOC100133233 TRAF3 interacting Hs.147434 LOC100133233 /// /// TRAF3IP3 protein 3 /// TRAF3IP3 hypothetical protein LOC100133233 231979_at 2.62584 0.0159 up CDNA FLJ13266 fis, Hs.560351 clone OVARC1000960 205213_at 2.6213982 0.0053 up CENTB1 centaurin, beta 1 Hs.337242 CENTB1 228570_at 2.6178532 0.0408 up BTBD11 BTB (POZ) domain Hs.271272 BTBD11 containing 11 36829_at 2.5844522 0.0216 down PER1 period homolog 1 Hs.445534 PER1 (Drosophila) 213553_x_at 2.5724282 0.0243 up APOC1 apolipoprotein C-I Hs.110675 APOC1 220037_s_at 2.5648596 0.0306 down LYVE1 lymphatic vessel Hs.655332 LYVE1 endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 229629_at 2.5638428 0.0373 up Transcribed locus Hs.96886 205831_at 2.5500786 0.0282 up CD2 CD2 molecule Hs.523500 CD2 223939_at 2.544601 0.0082 up SUCNR1 succinate receptor 1 Hs.279575 SUCNR1 202705_at 2.5440648 0.0279 up CCNB2 cyclin B2 Hs.194698 CCNB2 211144_x_at 2.5399292 0.0032 up TARP /// TRGC2 T cell receptor gamma Hs.534032 TARP /// TRGC2 constant 2 /// TCR gamma alternate reading frame protein 236198_at 2.5300303 0.0045 up Transcribed locus Hs.124554 227361_at 2.5162728 0.0016 up HS3ST3B1 heparan sulfate Hs.48384 HS3ST3B1 (glucosamine) 3-O- sulfotransferase 3B1 215118_s_at 2.5158434 0.0043 up IGHG1 Immunoglobulin heavy Hs.510635 IGHG1 constant mu 216491_x_at 2.5092628 0.0442 up IGHM immunoglobulin heavy IGHM constant mu 232180_at 2.5054874 0.029 down UGP2 UDP-glucose Hs.516217 UGP2 pyrophosphorylase 2 222171_s_at 2.4998665 0.0101 up PKNOX2 PBX/knotted 1 Hs.696454 PKNOX2 homeobox 2 227202_at 2.4893816 0.0118 down CNTN1 Contactin 1 Hs.143434 CNTN1 205789_at 2.487026 0.0014 up CD1D CD1d molecule Hs.1799 CD1D 213475_s_at 2.4822345 0.0125 up ITGAL integrin, alpha L Hs.174103 ITGAL (antigen CD11A (p180), lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1; alpha polypeptide) 227353_at 2.4784243 0.0219 up TMC8 transmembrane Hs.592102 TMC8 channel-like 8 224856_at 2.4759243 0.0014 down FKBP5 FK506 binding protein 5 Hs.407190 FKBP5 205997_at 2.4736073 0.0366 up ADAM28 ADAM Hs.174030 ADAM28 metallopeptidase domain 28 243366_s_at 2.4570408 0.0154 up Transcribed locus Hs.72981 236632_at 2.4543645 0.041 down LOC646576 hypothetical Hs.632595 LOC646576 LOC646576 219812_at 2.4274476 0.0018 up PVRIG poliovirus receptor Hs.521075 PVRIG related immunoglobulin domain containing 203697_at 2.4193823 0.0414 up FRZB frizzled-related protein Hs.128453 FRZB 204224_s_at 2.4184737 0.0041 up GCH1 GTP cyclohydrolase 1 Hs.86724 GCH1 (dopa-responsive dystonia) 204116_at 2.414099 9.41E−04 up IL2RG interleukin 2 receptor, Hs.84 IL2RG gamma (severe combined immunodeficiency) 203698_s_at 2.4131014 0.0443 up FRZB frizzled-related protein Hs.128453 FRZB 1556579_s_at 2.4127262 0.0151 down IGSF10 immunoglobulin Hs.708245 IGSF10 superfamily, member 10 1559696_at 2.4097893 0.0395 down Full length insert Hs.269011 cDNA clone YW24B11 1563467_at 2.4090035 0.0127 down MRNA; cDNA Hs.683994 DKFZp451G0810 (from clone DKFZp451G0810) 228658_at 2.4020526 0.005 up MIAT myocardial infarction Hs.708982 MIAT associated transcript (non-protein coding) 235274_at 2.3983648 0.0231 up Transcribed locus Hs.660869 203276_at 2.3960564 0.0168 up LMNB1 lamin B1 Hs.89497 LMNB1 206026_s_at 2.3907716 0.019 up TNFAIP6 tumor necrosis factor, Hs.437322 TNFAIP6 alpha-induced protein 6 238028_at 2.3876998 0.0161 down LOC100128918 hypothetical protein LOC100128918 LOC100128918 204563_at 2.3850048 0.0207 up SELL selectin L (lymphocyte Hs.82848 SELL adhesion molecule 1) 238909_at 2.3714752 0.0166 down S100A10 S100 calcium binding Hs.143873 S100A10 protein A10 213416_at 2.3587496 0.0393 up ITGA4 integrin, alpha 4 Hs.694732 ITGA4 (antigen CD49D, alpha 4 subunit of VLA-4 receptor) 212884_x_at 2.3569815 0.0273 up APOE apolipoprotein E Hs.654439 APOE 216510_x_at 2.355159 0.0471 up IGHA1 /// IGHD immunoglobulin heavy Hs.510635 IGHA1 /// IGHD /// /// IGHG1 /// constant alpha 1 /// IGHG1 /// IGHM IGHM /// immunoglobulin heavy /// IGHV4-31 /// IGHV4-31 /// constant delta /// IGHV@ IGHV@ immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 (G1m marker) /// immunoglobulin heavy constant mu /// immunoglobulin heavy variable group /// immunoglobulin heavy variable 4-31 214470_at 2.3533692 0.0289 up KLRB1 killer cell lectin-like Hs.169824 KLRB1 receptor subfamily B, member 1 205804_s_at 2.345589 0.006 up TRAF3IP3 TRAF3 interacting Hs.147434 TRAF3IP3 protein 3 227209_at 2.342481 0.0126 down CNTN1 Contactin 1 Hs.143434 CNTN1 219059_s_at 2.3405485 0.0311 down LYVE1 lymphatic vessel Hs.655332 LYVE1 endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 221854_at 2.3365889 0.0271 down PKP1 plakophilin 1 Hs.497350 PKP1 (ectodermal dysplasia/skin fragility syndrome) 218585_s_at 2.3360758 0.0487 up DTL denticleless homolog Hs.656473 DTL (Drosophila) 214240_at 2.3331432 0.0016 up GAL galanin prepropeptide Hs.278959 GAL 209670_at 2.3313375 0.043 up TRAC T cell receptor alpha TRAC constant 225646_at 2.3269796 0.0079 up CTSC cathepsin C Hs.128065 CTSC 1569323_at 2.3260155 0.0061 down PTPRG protein tyrosine Hs.654488 PTPRG phosphatase, receptor type, G 240413_at 2.3233202 0.0074 up PYHIN1 pyrin and HIN domain Hs.710248 PYHIN1 family, member 1 219497_s_at 2.3163836 0.002 up BCL11A B-cell CLL/lymphoma Hs.370549 BCL11A 11A (zinc finger protein) 204822_at 2.3125527 0.0259 up TTK TTK protein kinase Hs.169840 TTK 205152_at 2.3108768 0.0091 up SLC6A1 solute carrier family 6 Hs.443874 SLC6A1 (neurotransmitter transporter, GABA), member 1 238619_at 2.3029032 0.0102 down CDNA FLJ26188 fis, Hs.662069 clone ADG04821 234224_at 2.2970333 0.0157 down MRNA; cDNA Hs.675501 DKFZp434O0919 (from clone DKFZp434O0919) 216950_s_at 2.291819 0.0499 up FCGR1A Fc fragment of IgG, Hs.77424 FCGR1A high affinity Ia, receptor (CD64) 210116_at 2.2913194 0.0129 up SH2D1A SH2 domain protein Hs.349094 SH2D1A 1A, Duncan's disease (lymphoproliferative syndrome) 244313_at 2.2787273 0.0307 up CR1 complement component Hs.334019 CR1 (3b/4b) receptor 1 (Knops blood group) 206025_s_at 2.2759442 0.0304 up TNFAIP6 tumor necrosis factor, Hs.437322 TNFAIP6 alpha-induced protein 6 203381_s_at 2.274126 0.0385 up APOE apolipoprotein E Hs.654439 APOE 224412_s_at 2.2737513 0.0186 up TRPM6 transient receptor Hs.272225 TRPM6 potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 6 209829_at 2.264406 0.0228 up C6orf32 chromosome 6 open Hs.559459 C6orf32 reading frame 32 205101_at 2.2640457 0.0097 up CIITA class II, major Hs.701991 CIITA histocompatibility complex, transactivator 240120_at 2.2578816 0.0044 down Transcribed locus Hs.658732 213603_s_at 2.2569065 0.0088 up RAC2 ras-related C3 Hs.517601 RAC2 botulinum toxin substrate 2 (rho family, small GTP binding protein Rac2) 233720_at 2.253206 0.0118 down SORBS2 Sorbin and SH3 domain Hs.655143 SORBS2 containing 2 210170_at 2.242759 0.0226 down PDLIM3 PDZ and LIM domain 3 Hs.85862 PDLIM3 224840_at 2.2365067 ##### down FKBP5 FK506 binding protein 5 Hs.407190 FKBP5 223565_at 2.23617 0.0491 up MGC29506 hypothetical protein Hs.409563 MGC29506 MGC29506 202524_s_at 2.2349148 0.0076 up SPOCK2 sparc/osteonectin, cwcv Hs.523009 SPOCK2 and kazal-like domains proteoglycan (testican) 2 227134_at 2.2259524 0.0146 up SYTL1 synaptotagmin-like 1 Hs.469175 SYTL1 226766_at 2.225623 0.0193 down ROBO2 roundabout, axon Hs.13305 ROBO2 guidance receptor, homolog 2 (Drosophila) 1561880_a_at 2.2199078 0.0248 down SIGLECP16 sialic acid binding Ig- Hs.686869 SIGLECP16 like lectin, pseudogene 16 209035_at 2.2186282 0.0179 up MDK midkine (neurite Hs.82045 MDK growth-promoting factor 2) 203417_at 2.216585 0.015 up MFAP2 microfibrillar- Hs.389137 MFAP2 associated protein 2 230002_at 2.2159522 ##### down CLCC1 Chloride channel Hs.658489 CLCC1 CLIC-like 1 221558_s_at 2.209354 0.0192 up LEF1 lymphoid enhancer- Hs.555947 LEF1 binding factor 1 220418_at 2.2046425 0.0216 up UBASH3A ubiquitin associated and Hs.473912 UBASH3A SH3 domain containing, A 241525_at 2.2044063 0.0478 down LOC200772 hypothetical protein Hs.647893 LOC200772 LOC200772 218948_at 2.1967654 0.0308 down QRSL1 glutaminyl-tRNA Hs.406917 QRSL1 synthase (glutamine- hydrolyzing)-like 1 242188_at 2.187711 0.006 down Transcribed locus Hs.692275 226905_at 2.1773713 0.0418 up FAM101B family with sequence Hs.345588 FAM101B similarity 101, member B 229041_s_at 2.168316 0.036 up Homo sapiens, clone Hs.661035 IMAGE: 5205388, mRNA 206960_at 2.1570435 0.0496 down LPAR4 lysophosphatidic acid Hs.522701 LPAR4 receptor 4 1554741_s_at 2.1554446 0.0485 up FGF7 /// fibroblast growth factor Hs.536967 FGF7 /// KGFLP1 KGFLP1 /// 7 (keratinocyte growth /// KGFLP2 KGFLP2 factor) /// keratinocyte growth factor-like protein 1 /// keratinocyte growth factor-like protein 2 210031_at 2.1529045 0.0034 up CD247 CD247 molecule Hs.156445 CD247 237177_at 2.1515565 0.0482 up CNTN4 contactin 4 Hs.298705 CNTN4 223159_s_at 2.1506197 0.0343 up NEK6 NIMA (never in mitosis Hs.197071 NEK6 gene a)-related kinase 6 239287_at 2.1423345 0.0115 up Transcribed locus Hs.443475 234366_x_at 2.1375463 0.0345 up IGL@ immunoglobulin Hs.449585 IGL@ lambda locus 233518_at 2.1363444 0.0266 down CDNA FLJ11493 fis, Hs.662031 clone HEMBA1001940 210972_x_at 2.136036 0.0262 up TRA@ /// TRAC T cell receptor alpha Hs.74647 TRA@ /// TRAC /// TRAJ17 /// locus /// T cell receptor /// TRAJ17 /// TRAV20 alpha variable 20 /// T TRAV20 cell receptor alpha joining 17 /// T cell receptor alpha constant 203542_s_at 2.1288373 0.0067 down KLF9 Kruppel-like factor 9 Hs.150557 KLF9 228442_at 2.1287825 0.0015 down Transcribed locus Hs.599855 203543_s_at 2.1280944 0.0104 down KLF9 Kruppel-like factor 9 Hs.150557 KLF9 228323_at 2.12026 0.0384 up CASC5 cancer susceptibility Hs.181855 CASC5 candidate 5 213906_at 2.118813 0.0274 up MYBL1 v-myb myeloblastosis Hs.445898 MYBL1 viral oncogene homolog (avian)-like 1 226991_at 2.1183393 0.0025 down NFATC2 Nuclear factor of Hs.356321 NFATC2 activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2 63305_at 2.1172192 0.0101 up PKNOX2 PBX/knotted 1 Hs.696454 PKNOX2 homeobox 2 220059_at 2.1170564 0.012 up STAP1 signal transducing Hs.435579 STAP1 adaptor family member 1 230670_at 2.1163094 0.0145 down IGSF10 immunoglobulin Hs.708245 IGSF10 superfamily, member 10 210538_s_at 2.1159317 0.01 up BIRC3 baculoviral IAP repeat- Hs.127799 BIRC3 containing 3 209671_x_at 2.1157858 0.0239 up TRA@ /// TRAC T cell receptor alpha Hs.74647 TRA@ /// TRAC locus /// T cell receptor alpha constant 205798_at 2.1101081 0.0067 up IL7R interleukin 7 receptor Hs.591742 IL7R 204444_at 2.109656 0.0346 up KIF11 kinesin family member Hs.8878 KIF11 11 232476_at 2.0997741 ##### down CDNA: FLJ21452 fis, Hs.677322 clone COL04505 212843_at 2.0977771 0.0068 up NCAM1 neural cell adhesion Hs.503878 NCAM1 molecule 1 206398_s_at 2.094634 0.0034 up CD19 CD19 molecule Hs.652262 CD19 232541_at 2.0904567 0.0293 down CDNA FLJ20099 fis, Hs.664233 clone COL04544 214617_at 2.0896149 0.0072 up PRF1 perforin 1 (pore Hs.2200 PRF1 forming protein) 235229_at 2.087524 0.0322 up Transcribed locus, Hs.332649 strongly similar to XP_001102524.1 PREDICTED: similar to Olfactory receptor 2I1 [Macaca mulatta] 233498_at 2.0841491 0.0363 down ERBB4 v-erb-a erythroblastic Hs.390729 ERBB4 leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4 (avian) 225647_s_at 2.0839553 0.0173 up CTSC cathepsin C Hs.128065 CTSC 231546_at 2.0803971 0.0276 down Transcribed locus Hs.673407 204890_s_at 2.0790656 0.0151 up LCK lymphocyte-specific Hs.470627 LCK protein tyrosine kinase 229714_at 2.0776503 0.0188 down HS6ST3 heparan sulfate 6-O- Hs.171001 HS6ST3 sulfotransferase 3 204951_at 2.076369 ##### up RHOH ras homolog gene Hs.654594 RHOH family, member H 233058_at 2.0742502 0.0075 down CDNA FLJ20046 fis, Hs.659320 clone COL00573 236289_at 2.0654333 0.0475 down Transcribed locus Hs.634923 244356_at 2.0597653 0.0282 down Transcribed locus Hs.665417 215925_s_at 2.056905 ##### up CD72 CD72 molecule Hs.116481 CD72 232592_at 2.0530064 0.0056 down CDNA FLJ11982 fis, Hs.655591 clone HEMBB1001335 220330_s_at 2.0477364 0.0095 up SAMSN1 SAM domain, SH3 Hs.570423 SAMSN1 domain and nuclear localization signals 1 240156_at 2.044302 0.0148 down 208268_at 2.0416365 0.0483 up ADAM28 ADAM Hs.174030 ADAM28 metallopeptidase domain 28 207001_x_at 2.036325 0.0046 down TSC22D3 TSC22 domain family, Hs.522074 TSC22D3 member 3 242892_at 2.033709 0.0396 down 212570_at 2.0322907 0.0134 down ENDOD1 endonuclease domain Hs.167115 ENDOD1 containing 1 226709_at 2.0311205 0.0049 down ROBO2 roundabout, axon Hs.13305 ROBO2 guidance receptor, homolog 2 (Drosophila) 213895_at 2.0229967 0.008 down EMP1 epithelial membrane Hs.436298 EMP1 protein 1 234884_x_at 2.0179472 0.0272 up IGL@ /// RPL14 Immunoglobulin Hs.449585///Hs.706761 IGL@ /// RPL14 lambda variable group /// Immunoglobulin lambda joining 3 209795_at 2.0122337 0.0333 up CD69 CD69 molecule Hs.208854 CD69 1558937_s_at 2.0113747 0.0252 down MRNA (fetal brain Hs.677477 cDNA b2_2g) 227030_at 2.0106547 0.0303 up Full length insert Hs.371680 cDNA clone YY82H04 222723_at 2.0102153 0.0491 up LOC727901 hypothetical LOC727901 LOC727901 1568983_a_at 2.0098615 0.0389 up CDNA clone Hs.656448 IMAGE: 5261717 233302_at 2.0084972 0.0423 up CDNA FLJ10224 fis, Hs.662182 clone HEMBB1000025 206209_s_at 2.0081198 0.0245 up CA4 carbonic anhydrase IV Hs.89485 CA4 1570005_at 2.0057037 0.0145 down CDNA clone Hs.544373 IMAGE: 4838152

PUBLICATIONS

These publications are incorporated by reference to the extent they relate materials and methods disclosed herein.

  • Livak K and Schmittgen, T., Analysis of Relative Gene Expression Data Using Real-Time Quantitative PCR and the 2-ΔΔCT Method., Methods 2001:25 402-408
  • Lynn D J, Winsor G L, Chan C, Richard N, Laird M R, Barsky A, et al. “InnateDB: facilitating systems-level analyses of the mammalian innate immune response.” Mol Syst Biol 2008; 4:218.
  • Lysholm J, Gillquist J. “Evaluation of knee ligament surgery results with special emphasis on use of a scoring scale.” Am J Sports Med 1982; 10(3):150-4.
  • Roos E, Toksvig-Larsen S. Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)-validation and comparison to the WOMAC in total knee replacement. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2003; 1(1):17. http://www.koos.nu/KOOSGuide2003.pdf
  • Roos E M, Roos H P, Lohmander L S, Ekdahl C, Beynnon B D. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)—development of a self-administered outcome measure. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1998; 28(2):88-96.

Claims

1. A gene expression profile comprising values for gene products that are differentially expressed in knee injury patients with synovial inflammation compared to knee injury patients without synovial inflammation.

2. The gene expression profile of claim 1 comprising the genes of Annex Table 2.

3. The gene expression profile of claim 2 comprising the genes of Table 3 (SEQ ID NOS 1-65).

4. The gene expression profile of claim 1 wherein the gene products are selected from a group consisting of mRNA and proteins.

5. The gene expression profile of claim 1 wherein cytokine expression is positively associated with Lysholm scores.

6. The gene expression profile of claim 5 wherein higher CCL19 protein levels are associated with worse symptoms.

7. A genetic expression profile used to detect inflammation associated with a joint injury, the gene products obtained from a biological sample from a joint injury, and the profile determined from measuring the gene products of genes in Table 3 (SEQ ID NOS 1-65).

8. A method to target genes in the gene expression profile of a patient, the method comprising:

(a) determining which gene expression values show the greatest association with synovial inflammation; and
(b) targeting those genes for developing appropriate therapies.

9. The gene expression profile of claim 8 wherein chemokines IL8 (SEQ ID NO: 5), CCL5 (SEQ ID NO: 3), CCL19 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and CCR7 (SEQ ID NO: 4) are associated with synovial inflammation.

10. A method to treat inflammation associated with knee injuries in a patient, the method comprising:

(a) determining a gene expression profile of the patient according to claim 1, and identifying genetic targets for therapeutic intervention as those genes within the profile whose expression has the greatest association with synovial inflammation; and
(b) treating the patent by interacting with the targets to alleviate their effects.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the targets are cytokines.

12. A method to identify a patient with knee symptoms associated with synovial inflammation, the method comprising:

(a) determining a gene expression profile from a biological sample of the patient; and
(b) comparing the profile of the patient to profiles of claim 1 obtained from patients with knee injuries who had synovial inflammation and those who did not, to determine whether synovial inflammation contributes to knee symptoms of the patient.

13. A method to improve clinical outcomes after arthroscopic and post joint trauma in a patient, the method comprising:

(a) determining the chemokine signature of the patient; and
(b) developing appropriate treatment based on the target genes that are in the chemokine signature.
Patent History
Publication number: 20130178442
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2013
Publication Date: Jul 11, 2013
Applicant: RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (Chicago, IL)
Inventor: RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 13/791,484